Patent · US Expired

Vibration actuator drive device and method of use

US6091179A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
19References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 13, 1997
Grant dateJul 18, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 13, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02N2/126
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A driving device is equipped with a vibration actuator. The vibration actuator includes a roller element, an elastic member and electro-mechanical converting elements, which contact the elastic member. The electro-mechanical converting elements generate a vibration to drive the elastic member. Additionally, the roller element transfers relative movement to at least one element to be moved by contacting a driving part of the vibration actuator and by rotating. The roller element comprising a first part contacting the at least one driving section of the elastic member and a second part, separate from the first part, contacting the at least one element. In operation, the at least one electro-mechanical converting element vibrates the at least one driving section of the elastic member. The at least one driving section transfers the vibration to the first part of the roller element to rotate the roller element and the least one element is moved by rotation of the second part of the roller element.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.